Hyundai’s restomod Grandeur is the perfect EV for a supervillain

Image: Hyundai

As someone who only dabbles in car culture, I usually find concepts to be more weird than enticing — but this is absolutely not the case for Hyundai's Heritage Series Grandeur EV, which goes with an incredible retro aesthetic, rather than an alien future one. While Hyundai says that the car is made to celebrate the anniversary of its flagship sedan launched in the mid-‘80s, there’s only one thing that springs to mind when looking at it: that it would be the perfect vehicle for a supervillain.

To be clear, I don’t mean a Marvel-style antagonist with supernatural powers. I mean a Gordan Gekko-esque SOB; someone rich enough to shape the future or bend the ear of bought-off politicians. The car’s blacked-out windows, solid hubcaps, and...

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How to change your default browser in Windows 11

If you’ve updated your PC from Windows 10 to Windows 11, you may have noticed that when you click on a link for a website, a PDF document, or a variety of other file types, you will now be sent to Microsoft’s Edge browser. In its new version of Windows, Microsoft seems to have become especially aggressive in pushing its own apps over the apps that had been installed as defaults before the upgrade. In other words, Edge suddenly became your default browser.

Normally, the first time you go into another browser that is not Edge — say, Google Chrome — the not-Edge browser will ask if you’d like to make it the default instead. However, the process for changing your defaults in Windows 11 has become more complicated than it was in Windows...

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Now Alexa can tell Netflix to just ‘play something’

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Over the last couple of years, Netflix has refined a one-button solution that picks something for you based on your tastes and starts playing it right away. It first called the feature names like Shuffle and eventually landed on Play Something. The button has top positioning in its TV and mobile apps, but now things are even easier to activate, as Netflix has linked its automatic selector to Amazon’s voice-controlled AI and streaming hardware.

Image: Amazon

If you’re in the US or Canada, just say “Alexa, Play Something,” and if you have an Echo speaker or app listening in, plus a Fire TV device with Netflix activated, then that’s what will happen. In a post mentioning the feature, Netflix director of marketing...

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Biden signs $1 trillion infrastructure package into law

On Monday, President Biden signed a historic $1 trillion infrastructure bill aimed at repairing the nation’s roads and bridges along with investing billions into expanding access to broadband internet and bolstering the electrical grid.

“For too long, we’ve talked about having the best economy in the world. We’ve talked about asserting American leadership in the world with the best and safest roads, railways, ports, and airports,” Biden said at Monday’s signing ceremony. “But today, we are finally getting it done. And my message to the American people is: America is moving again. And your life is going to change for the better.”

“America is moving again”

The legislation is the largest federal investment in infrastructure in over a...

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Antitrust advocate Zephyr Teachout launches bid for New York attorney general

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

On Monday, progressive tech critic Zephyr Teachout announced that she will run for New York attorney general in 2022. A law professor at Fordham University and a scholar on corruption and antitrust laws, Teachout could push for more strenuous penalties in several major tech antitrust cases.

Teachout said earlier this year that she would run for attorney general if the incumbent, current attorney general Letitia James, decided to run for governor. In October, James announced that she would be running for the New York gubernatorial Democratic nomination, leaving the attorney general seat open next year.

At a press conference on Monday, Teachout said her priorities as attorney general would include fighting corruption and corporate abuse...

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Disney is giving its characters a license to brawl in this Apple-exclusive game

If you’ve dreamt of the day Disney would wake up and see the huge potential in creating its own take on Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. fighting game... that day has not yet come. But Disney may have just taken a step toward that future with Disney Melee Mania, an Apple Arcade exclusive coming this December.

While we’ve only gotten the briefest glimpses from the game’s Twitter account (below) and Apple’s press release today, it actually does feature Disney and Pixar characters like Elsa, Moana, and Buzz Lightyear smacking each other around with their powers, laser beams, and one mean oar in search of a win.

Head in the game? Disney and Pixar's holo-arena awaits in #DisneyMeleeMania ⭐️Coming soon to @AppleArcade! https://t.co/QF62cs1cRGp...

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T-Mobile hits its goal of 200 million covered by ‘ultra capacity’ 5G a few weeks early

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

T-Mobile has announced that its “Ultra Capacity” 5G network now covers over 200 million people in the US, a goal the company had previously set to reach before the end of 2021.

T-Mobile uses its “Ultra Capacity” 5G label for its mid-band and mmWave networks, both of which offer much faster speeds than its low-band “5G Extended Range” network. The low-band network — which is closer to 4G LTE in actual speed — has an even wider reach, with T-Mobile boasting that it “covers 308 million people across 1.7 million square miles.”

The rollout here is particularly notable given T-Mobile’s success with its mid-band network — PCMag crowned the carrier as the fastest in 2021, largely due to the strength and coverage of its mid-band spectrum...

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Twitter Blue’s Nuzzel-like top articles summary has arrived for iOS

Image: Twitter

Twitter’s Top Articles feature, which creates a report of articles popular in Blue subscribers’ networks, is now available on iOS after the company promised last week that it’d be coming “very soon.” It’s been available on Android and the web, but now everyone who subscribes to Twitter’s paid service should be able to see a roundup of what people were reading and tweeting about over the past day.

Top Articles is a sort of spiritual successor to a service called Nuzzel, which provided a similar roundup through email. Nuzzel was run by a company called Scroll, and was shut down when Twitter acquired the company earlier this year. Twitter said at the time it planned to bring Nuzzel back, and now its most popular feature is available to...

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The remastered GTA Trilogy is back on PC

Rockstar Games

After a delay lasting around 72 hours, Rockstar Games finally made Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition playable and purchasable again on PC.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is again available through the Rockstar Games Launcher for play and purchase. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and are working to improve and update overall performance as we move forward: https://t.co/hAfEKqYS3o

— Rockstar Support (@RockstarSupport) November 15, 2021

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and are working to improve and update overall performance as we move forward,” Rockstar said in a tweet.

The Trilogy, which includes remastered versions of GTA III, GTA Vice City, and GTA San Andreas,...

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Russia blows up a satellite, creating a dangerous debris cloud in space

Image: Verge/Alex Castro

This morning, Russia destroyed one of its own satellites with a ground-based missile, creating thousands of pieces of debris that have spread out into Earth orbit, according to the US State Department. The US has identified at least 1,500 trackable pieces of debris from the event, and many thousands of smaller ones that cannot be traced, Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, said during a briefing.

The news comes amid reports from Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, independently verified by _The Verge_via NASA’s live feed,that the astronauts living on board the International Space Station had to shelter in place this morning due to a cloud of space debris that seems to be passing by the station every 90 minutes, the time it...

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If you can’t play Halo Infinite right now, you’re not alone

Halo Infinite’s_multiplayer beta is here, but the rollout is hitting some snags._

Microsoft surprise-launched Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer beta on Monday, but if you’re having trouble jumping into the game, you’re not the only one.

According to Brian Jarrard, Halo community director at 343 Industries, some players playing on Xbox or from the Windows store are “likely hitting some blue screens / errors” while trying to launch the game. “The build is still publishing and rolling out, expected to resolve in due time,” he said.

PSA: We're in the thick of things at the moment but FYI that players on Xbox/WinStore are likely hitting some blue screens / errors trying to launch. The build is still publishing and rolling out, expected to resolve in due time. Hang in there!

— Brian Jarrard (@ske7ch) November...

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A $219 Windows on Arm PC is finally available for developers

Developers, historically, have had somewhat limited options when it comes to testing apps for Windows on Arm. They’ve commonly needed to purchase costly Arm devices like the Surface Pro X, which starts at $899.99. Microsoft and Qualcomm aim to lower that barrier to entry with the new ECS Liva Mini Box QC710 Desktop, a tiny Snapdragon-based PC that’s now available for $219 on the Microsoft Store.

The QC710 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7c Compute SC7180 (the first-generation Snapdragon 7c, rather than the second-generation chip that Qualcomm announced earlier this year). It also comes with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage, as well as various expansion ports including USB 2.0 Type-A, HDMI, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB Type-C, and a...

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Surprise: Amazon has four new smart switches

Amazon Basics new smart switches add simple smart control to existing lighting. | Image: Amazon

A new line of Amazon Basics Smart Switches has landed on Amazon.com, bringing the Amazon-branded smart home gadgets count up to seven, including the new smart thermostat and smart indoor air quality monitor. That’s a big leap from the one, lonely Amazon smart plug the company had left after discontinuing its indoor smart security camera last year.

Spotted by Dan Wroclawski of Consumer Reports, the four smart switches launched on November 11th and include a single-pole switch ($17.99) and a single-pole dimmer ($19.99) both for controlling one lighting circuit, and a three-way switch ($18.99) and a three-way dimmer ($20.99), which can control one circuit from two locations.

A smart switch turns existing hardwired lighting into smart...

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Twitter makes big changes for devs as it eyes decentralized future

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Twitter’s new API is finally official, which could mean good things for third-party clients

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The live-action Halo TV show on Paramount Plus gets its first brief teaser

The long-in-the-works Halo TV series finally has its first — very brief — teaser trailer, revealed today at Microsoft’s 20th anniversary Xbox event, giving a first glimpse at the live-action adaptation of the iconic games.

The teaser is very short, offering just a few close-up shots of Master Chief’s Mjolnir armor (set to be filled by American Gods’ Pablo Schreiber in the live-action show), before a voice that sounds a lot like Cortana (Jen Taylor, reprising her role from the games) says “Hello, Master Chief.”

Hello, Master Chief. #HaloTheSeries streaming 2022, exclusively on @ParamountPlus. pic.twitter.com/xjmMNrvwLO

— Halo on Paramount+ (@HaloTheSeries) November 15, 2021

Halo has had several attempts at live action before,...

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Microsoft surprises with early Halo Infinite multiplayer launch today

Microsoft is surprising Xbox fans today with an early launch for Halo Infinite multiplayer. Rumors of the early Halo Infinite multiplayer drop appeared over the weekend, and Microsoft is now making it official as part of today’s 20-year Xbox anniversary.

Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode will be available for everyone on Xbox One, Xbox Series S / X, and PC to try out in beta today. This beta includes access to season one with all the core maps and battle pass features. Any progress in the multiplayer mode will also carry over to launch day on December 8th.

343 Industries, the developers of Halo Infinite, first started previewing the multiplayer mode of the game in July. A Halo Infinite multiplayer preview in late September was available...

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Amazon releases Prime Video app for Mac with downloads, AirPlay, and more

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Better late than never, as they say: Amazon today launched a Prime Video app for macOS that’s available as a free download in the Mac App Store. Prime Video for Mac includes support for offline downloads, and you can choose your preferred video quality both for regular streaming and downloads. (At the “best” setting, Amazon estimates around 5.8GB of data usage per hour when streaming. The figure is slightly lower for downloads, with Amazon quoting 2.9GB per hour of downloaded video.)

When you first open Prime Video for Mac, the app asks whether you want to receive notifications for content recommendations and other alerts. But from there, it’s much the same experience as on other platforms. Oddly, the Prime Video app itself can’t be made...

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Phil Spencer basically confirms The Elder Scrolls VI is an Xbox exclusive

Xbox chief Phil Spencer basically confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI will be an Xbox exclusive in an interview with GQ.

The news comes up in a section about Bethesda, which officially joined Microsoft in March. Starfield, Bethesda’s upcoming sci-fi game, has already been confirmed to be an Xbox and PC exclusive, and “Spencer says he sees the same for The Elder Scrolls VI,” according to GQ.

A quote in the article from Spencer elaborates a bit more. “But in order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about Elder Scrolls VI. That would be true when I think about any of our franchises.”

That all leaves open the possibility that The Elder Scrolls VI might...

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Microsoft’s Xbox FPS Boost feature arrives on 33 Xbox Cloud Gaming titles

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Microsoft is bringing its Xbox FPS Boost mode to the cloud. The Xbox maker is rolling out FPS Boost to 33 games on Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) today, as part of a big push for Xbox backward compatibility that sees 76 new game additions for modern Xbox consoles. FPS Boost will be enabled on Xbox Cloud Gaming titles like Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and The Evil Within 2.

Up until today, the Xbox FPS Boost feature, which makes existing games run better, was exclusive to Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. It’s being extended to Xbox Cloud Gaming because the service is now fully powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware.

While Microsoft has improved frame rates with some backward-compatible games, the FPS Boost feature improves older games...

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Microsoft adds FPS Boost to 37 more games on Xbox Series X / S

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Microsoft is enabling its Xbox FPS Boost mode on 37 more games today, bringing the total well beyond 100 games. Titles getting FPS Boost include the entire Gears of War franchise, the original Assassin’s Creed, Alan Wake, Fallout 3, and Fallout: New Vegas(the full list of games getting FPS Boost is available below).

The FPS Boost feature for Xbox Series X and Series S consoles is designed to make existing games run better. While Microsoft has improved frame rates with some backward-compatible games, the FPS Boost feature improves older games without developers having to make changes.

The 37 games getting FPS Boost today include 11 new additions to the Xbox backward compatibility library, with F.E.A.R., F.E.A.R. 3, Binary Domain, and N...

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Microsoft’s Xbox backward compatibility program returns with 76 new games

Microsoft put its Xbox backward compatibility program on hold two years ago, but it’s returning today for a final update to the catalog. To celebrate 20 years of Xbox, Microsoft is now adding 76 new games (full list below) to the backward compatibility library today. It’s a surprisingly long list of additions, including the entire Max Payne series, Skate 2, Dead or Alive Ultimate, and Star Wars Jedi Knight II.

“This latest and final addition of 70+ titles to the backwards compatibility program was only possible through the passion and feedback from the community,” explains Peggy Lo, compatibility program lead at Xbox. “[Xbox fans’] constant requests for specific titles and enhancements encouraged the backwards compatibility team to...

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Last year’s record-breaking power outages are a red flag for public health

Hundreds of deaths were linked to blackouts during the Texas freeze.

As power outages worsen across the country, experts are sounding the alarm about the potentially catastrophic impacts on human health.

Last week, the Energy Information Administration reported that the average person in the US spent over eight hours without power in 2020 — the worst year for outages in records going back to 2013. Some of those outages were deadly: dozens of people died in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which knocked out power just before a heat wave, while hundreds of people were killed in Texas during a blackout triggered by a deep freeze. But there are also more subtle ways electricity intersects with health, like if people with underlying health conditions are put in stressful, too-hot environments that...

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20 years of Xbox: a visual history

Microsoft’s latest consoles, the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Four generations and a surprising amount of redesigns

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Tesla is apparently installing Starlink antennas at some charging stations

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Charging your Tesla isn’t the most exciting experience — especially if you’re not paying for the cellular data plan that comes with a Premium Connectivity subscription — but a report from Electrek finds that may be about to change. According to the report, a user on Reddit noticed a Starlink dish, which goes by the official name Dishy McFlatface, at a Supercharger station in Lake City, Florida. So far, it remains unclear where else Tesla has deployed (or plans to deploy) Starlink satellite dishes and what purpose they’ll serve.

It’s possible the dish will provide complimentary Wi-Fi to customers without Tesla’s Premium Connectivity plan — those with the $10 per month subscription can take advantage of Tesla’s built-in entertainment apps,...

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Samsung hasn’t completely forgotten its Tizen smartwatches

Dan Seifert / The Verge

When Samsung dropped the bombshell that it was ditching Tizen for Wear OS 3, it promised not to leave older Galaxy Watch models in the dust. Now Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Watch Active, and Galaxy Watch Active 2 will get new watchfaces and health features as part of One UI 4.

Fall detection isn’t new on Samsung’s smartwatches, but today’s update will give you the option to tweak the feature’s sensitivity. According to Samsung’s press release, it says you can “choose to detect a fall when you are standing still.” Previously, Samsung’s fall detection feature was designed to detect hard falls when you’re running or moving. Triggering the feature will automatically send an SOS message to pre-selected...

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Jabra’s Elite 75t wireless earbuds are back down to their lowest price yet

Photo by Avery White / The Verge

If you’re after a great bargain on truly wireless earbuds that we really like, check out Best Buy’s deal on the Jabra Elite 75t. These usually cost $150, but the black-colored model is back down to just $80 — matching the lowest price yet. Best Buy says that this is its best deal of the season, and it’ll price match retailers if you find a better price. Consider this a great early Black Friday deal that you can take advantage of to get ahead with your holiday shopping.

The Verge’s Chris Welch enjoyed the several improvements that the Elite 75t made to the already-winning Elite 65t formula. They’re smaller, with a more comfortable design. And the sound quality should please those who are looking for thumping bass. The Elite 75t can...

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After all those podcast ads, Casper sells to a private equity firm

Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Casper Sleep Inc.

Casper Sleep is being acquired by private equity firm Durational Capital Management, which will take the boxed mattress company private, the companies announced Monday. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

Founded in 2014, Casper was one of a handful of companies whose ads were ubiquitous on podcasts and that sold its products directly to consumers.

The company went public in February 2020, with plans to expand from its primary business of direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales of boxed mattresses into products that “promote the ideal ambience for sleep,” according to its S-1 prospectus. That list of products included sleep tracking devices, bedside clocks, sleep services like digital apps and counseling, and even sleep...

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The Halo-themed Xbox Series X is available today at Best Buy

Image: Microsoft

The limited-edition Halo Infinite Xbox Series X is coming to select Best Buy stores across the US today. The console includes a digital copy of Halo Infinite, which will be playable on December 8th — or possibly sooner, if you believe internet rumors about a countdown ending today.

You can check for participating stores near you on Best Buy’s Xbox in-store event page. It looks like the page was just posted around 6AM ET today, in line with a tweet from restocking tipster Lord Restock. The same account, as well as other console trackers, indicates the consoles will be available today from BestBuy.com. They expect to see the Halo Infinite Xbox Series X restocked along with a number of PS5s and Nintendo Switch OLEDs, however, those sales...

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The Verge’s 2021 gaming and entertainment holiday gift guide

Illustration by Richard Parry

A collection of our favorite games and gadgets

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The Verge’s 2021 home tech holiday gift guide

Illustration by Richard Parry

Spruce up your digs with some clever gadgets

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